I Am You?! (NejiTen)

19- Short comings

Gaara approached Tenten after the day was over at the film set which somewhat surprised the woman. Gaara hardly initiated conversations so him starting one was somewhat weird.

"Tenten-san." Gaara greeted.

"Hmm? This is new. You mostly never talk." Tenten teased. "So what's up?"

"Ah. I was just wondering if...you know, I am new to Konoha and I haven't really been anywhere other than my hotel." Gaara scratched his cheek lightly with a finger. "You're the only person I have...as a friend I mean...so I wondering if you'd be my tour guide?"

It was somewhat funny to watch the normally stoic man stumble upon his words like a nervous wreck.

"Ano..." Tenten started.

"O-oh it's okay if you can't..."

"I didn't say that." Tenten reassured. "I have some free time on Saturday so how about that?" She asked. Saturday was supposed to be a day her and Neji spent together but the lavender eyed man was not going to be around because of family stuff again.

It would be boring to stay at home for excruciatingly long hours so Tenten agreed to be Gaara's tour guide.

"Thank you." Gaara's small smile held a bit of relief in it. "I'll see you on Saturday then?"

"Sure." They both exchanged numbers and parted ways.

On Saturday, Gaara and Tenten met up at a cafe close to Tenten's house. She was wearing the same disguise she wore on valentine's day so it was a bit difficult to recognize her. Gaara did recognize her though, and he did so by the phone she was holding.

"Tenten-san." He announced as he tapped her shoulder lightly in order not to startle her. Tenten turned around with a slight gasp but sighed in relief upon realising that it was only Gaara. The redhead was not so redhead anymore. He wore a black wig and piercings on his lower lip and ears.

"Gaara! How did you recognise me?" Tenten asked with a blinding smile.

"Your phone. You're the only person I know with a KFC phone cover." Gaara said gesturing to Tenten's customised phone case.

"What? I love chicken!" Tenten defended. "So..." She clapped her hands together. "Are you ready for the tour?"

"Yes ma'am." Gaara played along. He had no idea why he even did that but the grin on Tenten's face was satisfying.

Following Tenten's directions, Gaara drove around the city of Konoha and the woman pointed out places to him. Tenten was certainly garrulous, Gaara idly observed as he listened to her rambling about her experience at Konoha's museum when she was little. He didn't mind it though, she was fun to listen to.

"And there is Kaguya's tree! Gaara, we have to pull over and start walking from here because you'd miss all the cool spots when you're driving. Trust me, I know because I have once tried to driving around Konoha and..." Gaara found a parking slot, paid and pulled the car over and Tenten was still talking about her spontaneous drive around Konoha. "...you know what I said? I said...oh! You've parked."

Gaara simply nodded.

"Well come on, come on!" Tenten got out of the car and waited for Gaara to do same. When the redhead was next to her, she grabbed him by surprise and pulled him towards the direction of the Kaguya tree.

The tree was very tall with twisting branches and roots. It served as shade and swing areas for children on the lower branches.

"They say the tree's over three thousand years old but it still flourishes. I dunno where it gets its nutrition from but..." Tenten pulled a dramatic gasp. "What if the tree actually feeds on the life force of humans?!"